Pagasa: Major planets visible in February

Stargazing enthusiasts may have a grand time in February as the major planets in the Solar System will be visible in the night sky, state astronomers said. The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration also said the famous equilateral triangle or “Winter Triangle" will be visible throughout the month. “Several major planets will adorn the night sky of February. Venus and Jupiter will be passing close to each other low in the western horizon during the month. Mars and Saturn will be a good target for telescoping in the evening sky. The elusive Mercury will appear against the morning twilight in early February," Pagasa said in its astronomical diary. Visible planets At 5:45 a.m. this coming Thursday, Mercury will be located at about 10 degrees above the eastern horizon. Its magnitude increases during the first week until the end of the month shining at magnitude -0.2 to-0.9. “The planet will be illuminated from 74 to 94 percent and with decreasing diameter of 5.97 to 4.97 arc-seconds during the month," Pagasa said. In astronomy, an arc-second is one sixtieth (1/60) of one degree. On February 7 at around 7 p.m., Mars will be found at about 27 degrees above the east northeastern horizon and will remain visible in the evening sky throughout the month. Its magnitude decreases from the beginning to the end of the month, from -1.3 to -0.6 with a phase of 98 to 96 percent and a diameter from 14.06 to 12.21 arc-seconds. On February 16 at 6 p.m., Venus will be found together with Jupiter at about 9 and 8 degrees above the western horizon, respectively. Venus will be shining at magnitude -3.8 and will remain low in the western horizon throughout the month. Jupiter will stand at about 15 degrees above the western horizon and will be shining at magnitude -2.0. It will lie in the constellation of Aquarius, the Water Bearer and by using a modest size telescope, it will show a diameter of 33.26 arc-seconds. Uranus will remain glowing at magnitude +5.9 and will be located among the background stars of the constellations Pisces. Saturn will be found at about 14 degrees above the eastern horizon two hours before midnight. It will be glowing at magnitude +0.7 and will lie among the background stars of the constellation Virgo (the Virgin). But Pagasa said Neptune will be out of view on the night sky due to its proximity to the Sun. Winter triangle Pagasa said the Winter Triangle includes Betelgeuse, the super giant red star and the prominent star of the famous constellation Orion, the Mighty Hunter, Sirius, the brightest star in the sky of the constellation Canis Major (the Big Dog), and Procyon, the brightest star of the constellation Canis Minor (the Little Dog). - LBG, GMANews.TV